Episode 2.01: Brushfire!

[Davy, aka GM]

"We'll see what your computer engineering specialists can do with the remains of Reed's tricorder, but, between ours and Tann-Tyra's readings, and whatever detailed scans we can do of our two specimens, we should be able to get enough to calibrate our sensors to find specific patterns," Styles answers. "The scan itself will be slow going, though; that sort of precision requires a 'low and slow' approach, as I'm sure you're aware.

"What do you think, Mr. Les? Are your sensors and your department up for finding a few hundred needles in some giant haystacks?"

OOC: I'm stealing "Low and Slow" as destroyer crew slang meaning "narrow and deliberate" scanning with the sensors.

[Nolmir]

"It's a difficult task under any circumstances, but if any ship can do it, sir, it's the Drake."

[Patrick Goodman]

Treyva waited for his science officer to finish, then said, "It looks like the Klingons are definitely increasing their efforts...but to what end? And how do we counter it?"

[Davy, aka GM]

"I have an idea about that," Styles responds. "If you look back at Earth's history, there's a lever-action, tube fed rifle that was designed around the same time as the muskets that were primarily used in the American Civil War. They called it the Henry repeating rifle after its designer.

"We can make a case that it's contemporary, and it fits the tactics of the Tyreen much better than a rifled musket. Easier to load, and a force multiplier over the Apellan guns."

[Doug Burke]

"The Captain is correct," replied Sorak. "The two weapons originated with a decade of each other and the Henry was the most efficient of the two. It also chambered the.45 calibre shell which became the most commonly used ammunition in 19th Century Earth's United States of America."

[Renny]

Cole looks between the two officers as they describe the weapon, making a note on his padd. A schematic of the ancient weapon rotates lazily on his screen.

"Sirs, should I replicate a couple of these up so we have a point of reference, assuming the higher-ups are amenable to the plan?"

[Davy, aka GM]

Styles bristles slightly at the mention of "higher ups."

[Doug Burke]

"Keep in mind, Lieutenant, that basic Starfleet Protocol, backed up by numerous precedents, allow field commanders, in the absence of direct communication with Starfleet Command, extensive leeway on their decisions," the Vulcan points out, "It has often been the practice in such circumstances, much like when Captain Kirk first arranged the balance on Neural, that it is, as the humans say, 'better to ask forgiveness than permission.'"

[Renny]

"Of course, sir," Cole replies, internally berating himself at the implied slight on Styles' competence.

[Davy, aka GM]

"The commander is right, Mr. Cole. And, this far out on the frontier, we're a good nine days from an answer; we don't have that kind of time to wait, which is why Starfleet, in their infinite wisdom, gave shlubs like Jim Kirk and us -" Styles points at Treyva and himself "- the authority to make such decisions on our own."

Turning to his fellow captain, he adds, "Speaking of, I think we need to gather the war council as soon as sickbay releases my first officer. And, we're going to need to make contact with the Tyreen leadership as soon as possible."

[Patrick Goodman]

Treyva chuckled softly. "I don't think I've ever been called a 'schlub' before," he said. Looking at the Rostov's captain and his security officer, he continued. "I agree with you on both counts, Styles, but seeing as it's full dark down there, dropping in on the Tyreens can wait a few hours. You and your crew could all do with a shower, a hot meal, and some sleep, in the meantime."

Turning to Cole, he said, "Yes, have a couple of those rifles and some ammunition fabricated by the time we reconvene. Mr. Hodgkins and the Rostov's A&A officer are going to want to see them before we're through."

Looking to Styles, he asked, "Sound good to you  Captain?"

[Renny]

Cole gives Treyva a grateful nod, "I'll get my people right on it, sir"

[Davy, aka GM]

"Sounds good, captain," Styles responds.

With that, the security teams and the Rostov's crew get in some much needed rest, a sonic shower, and a hot, if synthesized, meal. The next morning (Stardate 8848.3), Treyva, Sorak, Les, and Cole join Styles, his first officer Lt. Cmdr. Ayala Even-Vered (a human woman of Levantine persuasion), and Reed in the main briefing room.

Both ships' A&A officers are standing by with three newly-manufactured repeating rifles for the war council's inspection.

Styles gets the meeting started, formally introducing his first officer to the others. None of the Drake's officers have heard of her, even by reputation, but that isn't entirely uncommon in an organization of nearly two million beings.

Hodgkins begins to describe the function of the new rifles and the rimfire cartridges they use. "Historically on Earth, the Henry and Spencer repeating rifles were prized possessions of infantry and cavalry soldiers," he says. "In an era where long-range fire was limited to two-to-three shots a minute, the sixteen-shot Henry was a major force multiplier."

"The downside," Lt. Dragomirov continues in her strong Russian accent, "is that repeaters' maximum effective range is at lower end of rifled muskets' max range; however, Tyreen tactics will mitigate range disadvantage.

"Tyreens have adapted well to firearms use at this point. They show cultural superiority for aim over Apellans, and repeating rifles will give them further advantage to compensate for numbers."

"If we dedicate our manufacturing capabilities a hundred percent to constructing guns and ammunition, we can outfit 120 men a day," Hodgkins estimates. Turning to his Rostov counterpart, he asks, "How many will we need?"

"About four hundred trained marksmen in this region," Dragomirov confirms.

"So, we'll need the better part of four days."

Styles shook his head and turned to Treyva. "We may not have that kind of time."

OOC:Current
Momentum 1 0 (new scene)
Threat 8

[Patrick Goodman]

"This is what you Humans call 'the other shoe,' isn't it?" Treyva asked.

[Davy, aka GM]

"Treyva, that shoe's been hanging for the better part of a decade," Styles replies. "Frankly, I'm surprised the Klingons waited this long to ramp up hostilities. Fighting has been on the decline for some time, now."

He pauses and looks over to his security officer. "Mr. Reed, pull up that surveillance we have of their training sessions."

"Aye, sir." The ensign finds and displays a file that was preserved in the Rostov's black box.

A number of still and video images show various infantry formations and maneuvers that are closer to squad-level tactics than the massed column-and-line formations that dominated the eras for which the rifled muskets were made. Reed explains that the weapons of the middle-19th Century were far more accurate and deadly than the weapons available when those tactics were originally developed, and the wars of the middle Century - specifically the American Civil War and the Crimean War - were bloodbaths by comparison to earlier conflicts.

"These tactics and maneuvers, combined with the new rifled musket," says Lt. Cmdr. Even-Vered, "will give the Apellans a significant advantage in the field, and reduce the tactical advantage the Tyreens have with their hit-and-run-style of warfare. The Apellans will be able to pursue and strike more accurately than before."

"Which is why the repeating rifle will level the playing field again, and maybe even tilt it a bit in our favor," Styles concludes. "Pumping out nearly six shots to their every one is a heck of a force multiplier. Mr. Sorak, do you think you can eke out a little more capacity from your fabricators?"